Welded steel units for expansion joints



Nov. 29, 1949 J. P. ZALLEA ET AL 2,489,844

WELDED STEEL UNIT FOR EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Aug. 18, 1945 5 Shets-Sheet 1 a INVENTOR.

JhMEs ZHLLE BY QOHN Q. MHNK XWM Nov. 29, 1949 I J. P. ZALLEA ET AL 2,489,844-

WELDED STEEL UNIT FOR EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Aug. 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 INVENTOR. as dAMEs F. ZALLE-A BY HN Q)- MANK.

a|q- 2l3 4 42, m

Nov. 29, 1949 J. E. ZALLEA ET AL WELDED STEEL UNIT FOR EXPANSION JOINTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 INVENTOR.

JAMES P ZALLEA flUHN M RNK Nov. 29, 1949 J. P. ZALLEA ET AL 2,489,844

' WELDEDSTEEL UNIT FOR EXPANSION JOINTS Filed Aug. 18, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J4 INVENTOR.

dAMEs P ZALLE-A BYJOHN MANK XWM Nov. 29, 1949 J. P. ZALLEA ET AL WELDED STEEL UNIT FOR EXPANSION JOINTS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 i 'atented Nov. 29, 194

UNITED STATES OFFICE WELDED' STEEL UNITS roii EXPANSION JOINTS James P. Zallea, Wilmington; and John J, Mank,

Newark, Dei, assignors, by nesneassignments, to ZalleaBrothers, Wilmington, DeI a partnership Application August 18, 1945, Serial No. 611,400 8 Claims. (01. 285-410? more or less V-flexible, circumferentially corrugated tube made of suitable material such as copper; copper alloys, stainless steel or other materials. Such expansion joints are also provided with external reinforcing elements, more commonly in the form of encircling annular structures, portions of which extend radially into the valleys of the corrugations and other portions of which extend axially of the tube and surround the peaks of the corrugations. These reinforcing devices are designed for the purpose of limiting the extension or contraction of the expansion tube. The present invention is particularly directed to thedesign and construction of these encircling reinforcing and limiting elements and; to the method of making the same.

In addition, expansion joints also include end portions firmly and permanently associated with the ends of the expansion tubes which serve for coupling the expansion joints to corresponding portions of the conduits. The present invention is directed in part to the structure of these end portions of the expansion joint.

One object of thepresent invention is to provide reinforcing elements which are greatly reduced in weight as compared with the reinforcing elements known hitherto. These reinforcing elements'are supported and carried by the thin walled flexible expansion tubes. When the reinforcing elements are relatively heavy the expansion tubes have a tendency to buckle and become misshapen. ,By means of the present invention whereby the weight of these reinforcing elements ,is minimized the tendency of the expansion; tube to buckle is substantially eliminated.

Essentially the reinforcing rings employed in the present invention are hollow toroids welded to theinner face of a ring. A

The present invention also aims to facilitate the manufacture of the several types of end construction with a minimum of stock on hand.

This object is accomplished by the use of the pressed or stamped elements which are employed in the formation of the reinforcing rings as "end expansion limiting members.

Another object of thepresent invention in the end construction vislto provide a structural arrangement whereby the thrust from the pipe is transmitted to the expansion tube uniformly circumferentially of the tube by a thrust receiving element.

Another object of the present invention is to minimize and substantially eliminate the expensive machining operations which are involved in the constructions known hitherto which employ castings which have to be machined.

Other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to persons skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and the present specification. I

In the drawings: I

Figure lis a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional View thereof showing the expansion joint in its fully expanded position; i h V V Figure 3 isa view similar to Figure 2 showing the expansion joint in its fully contracted position;

Figure 4 is a partly broken end view of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is .a sectional view of a modified end structure of the expansion joint;

Figure 5a is a sectional view of a further modified end structure;

I Figure fi is an end view thereof taken on line the of Figures;

Figure 7 is a face view of a reinforcing ring; 7

Figure Sis a View thereof as shown by line 88 of Figure '7 Figure 9 is a sectional view of one of the pressed rings taken on line 99 of Figure 10; Figure 110 is a plan view of one of the pressed l Figure 11 1s a sectional end view of another form of end construction; H

Figure i2 is an end view thereof;

Figure 13 is a sectional view of still another form of end construction;

Fig'u're 14 is an end view thereof;

Figure 15 is an end elevational view' of a joint having basal support;

Figure 16 is a section 16- 16 of Figure 15;

Figure 1'7 is a-view' similar to Figure 8 showing a modified form of the pressed ring; and

Figure 1'8 is a diametric cross-sectional view of one of the pressed rings of Figure 1'7.

Figure 1 illustrates generally the type of or-' gan'ization to which the present invention relates. It will be seenthat essentially it comprises a corrugated th n walled fl xible expansion tube 20'. The ends of the tube 20 are associated with or al view-taken on the me a isa l 3 aifixed to bolting ends 2| at each end of the tube. In the form shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 the ends of the expansion tube 20 are spun over the free faces of the bolting end flanges 2| to provide what is known as a Vanstone facing. When the expansion joint is inserted between a pair of bolting ends of conduits shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and is permanently assembled therewith as by bolts or the like, the spun over end of the tube 20 will be gripped at each end between a pair of bolting flanges. Other forms of end construction are shown in Figures 5 and 6 and in Figures 11 to 16 inclusive, which will be described in detail in a later portion of the specification.

The reinforcing annular rings are generally indicated by reference character 25 and are substantially the same in all forms of the present invention. At this point, therefore, the structure and method of manufacture of the reinforcing annular elements 25 will be detailed.

Figures 9 and together show the basic element which is employed in the construction of the present reinforcing ring and which as will be seen from a later portion of the specification is also employed as part of the end construction of the expansion joint. This element consists of an annulus 26, preferably of steel, which is shaped as by a stamping operation into the form indicated in full lines in Figure 9 of the drawings. It will be seen that by the stamping operation the material adjacent the inner edge 21 is curved so that the edge 21 is planar, while the flat body portion of the annulus is dished as shown so that its peripheral edge lies approximately in or closely adjacent to the plane of the inner edge 21. It is this principle of construction of the annulus 26 that permits of the next step in the manufacture of reinforcing rings 25. As shown by dotted lines in Figure 9, a duplicate annulus 26 is turned face to face to the annulus shown in full lines. In this position the edges 2? abut and the same are welded together along the line 28. The peripheral portions of the plates 26 may contact each other as shown in Figure 9 or they may be more or less spaced from each other as in the modification shown in Figures 17 and 18 to be described hereinafter. The essential feature of this phase of the present invention resides in the suitable shaping of the inner portion of the annulus 26 so that when the pair are welded they form a suitable shape for engaging the corrugations of the expansion tube 120 as shown in the drawings. The annulus l9 produced by welding the shaped units 26 forms a hollow toroid; and the preshaped annulus 26 will be hereinafter referred to as a hemitoroid.

As a next step, the hollow toroid I9 is inserted into the interior of a circular band 29 and its peripheral edges are welded to the interior of the band 29 as shown by the welding material 3!] in Figure 8. A relatively thick apertured ear 3! is welded to the exterior of the band 29 at diametrically opposed points. In addition, the band 29 has welded thereto internally threaded bosses 32 at diametrically opposed points and preferably half way between the ears 3| (see Figure '7).

It will now be understood that at this point the reinforcing ring is in the form of an annular unit consisting of the circular band 29 and hollow toroid l9 disposed within and welded to the band together with a pair of heavy ears 3| and tapped bosses 32. At this point the structure thus obtained is cut in two along a diameter which halves the ears 3| as shown by line 33. Figure 8 represents an end view of the cut face of one of these halves. It will now be understood that these two halves may be readily installed over the expansion tube and when so installed are joined together by means of bolts and nuts 34 and 35. The linkage device 36 is carried by the bosses 32 and serves to equalize the extension and contraction of the several corrugations of the tube 20.

The reinforcing elements thus far described will be seen to be employed in all the forms of the invention disclosed herein and are employed in the manner shown for all types of expansion tubes whether they be of copper or stainless steel or any other suitable material. One phase of the present invention resides in the simple and rugged construction of the ends of the expansion tubes which are particularly designed to transmit the thrust of the pipe or conduit system directly to the expansion tube over a large area thereof, thereby prolonging the life of the expansion joint. In the construction of the ends of the expansion joint, whether such ends include bolting flanges as shown in Figures 1 to 4 or welding nipples as shown in Figures 11 to 14, the hemitoroid shown in Figure 10 of the drawings is employed for direct contact with the endmost corrugation of the expansion tube and for cooperation with the reinforcing rings which have been thus far described. Thus the end structure of the expansion joint as well as the reinforcing rings utilize the same basic units and are assembled and constructed by welding operations.

All the end structures shown herein have an end expansion limiting member, which also serves to transmit thrust to the expansion tube, and which consists of the circular band 4| and the hemitoroid 46, shown as 26 in Figure 10. The hemitoroid 40 is welded to the inside of the band 4| as shown. The band 4| will be seen to cooperate with the bands 29 to limit contraction of the endmost corrugation and is approximately one-half the width of each of the bands 29.

All end structures also have a sleeve, which snugly fits over the end of the expansion tubes, the sleeve being welded to the planar edge of the ring 40. These sleeves will be seen to vary somewhat in length and other specific structural features. In Figures 2 and 5 this sleeve is shown at 42. The sleeve 42, welded to the planar edge of the hemitoroid 40 at one end, is also welded to the bolting flange 2| at the other end. Reinforcing ribs 43 are welded at one end to the bolting flange 2| and at the other end both to 40 and 4| as shown. The end unit, which includes the bolting flange 2| and the elements 4|), 4|, 42 and 43 together with the bosses 32 welded thereon as shown, are built up as units and mounted on the cylindrical ends of the expansion tube 20 in their circular or annular form, the free ends of the tube 20 being then spun over the flange 2|. However, if desired, this end structure may be cut into two cooperating halves and mounted on the tube ends and bolted together by means of the same type of lug construction as that employed in the reinforcing rings.

The end flanges 2| may, if desired, also carry the lugs 45 as shown in Figures 4 and 6 which are particularly useful in crating or shipping the expansion joints where rods passing through the notches in lugs 45 are employed for keeping the units in proper alignment.

The modification of end structure shown in Figures 5 and 6 will be seen to employ the same seen-t tiemeats at, 41 a and as as those" employed in the forms in Figures 2'- and 32 In this form,

however, the end of the expansion tutemlodges arecess on the ii'i iier face at the bolting flange 2| ran is welded therein as at-21 2 In addition, in the form shown in Figures and 6 the meeting faces of the bolting" flange l and the conduit boltinglring' 2m are respective y'prov'des with cooperating; complement-a1 grooves 2 i form an annular recess: Witlii i'ia solid soft meter r-i gasket 215 such or soft iron 01- the nae-,- compressible to seal the'j'oin-t between the me "is 2H and-Elia The forms (ii ell'd structure sl-lbwfi in Figures 1 1 14 employ welding nipples 50- instead 6f bolting flanges previously described,- they each employ the elements and H. The sleeve 51 in Figure 11' is welded to the ring to and has aflared end- 52. similarly. the expansiontube" sired;v also to the welding nipple 50. With this construction the welding of the gussets to the nipples-may be' eliminated s-i n'ce'the cup joint has sufiicient strength in shear to transmit the thrust.

In the assemblyot the end structure shown in Figures Hand 12, the elements 40, 4| and 5| may be prefabricated and mounted on the end of the expansion tube inring-like or annular form. If desired, however, the samemay be split--v to provide two:halves;-the halves also being provided with bolting lugs and the same may then be clamped on the end of the expansion tube. The Welding nipple' is tnennfiserteu, the cup joint arc Welt-1,54 is then formed and the reinforcing gusset's 55" are their welded to the elements 40 and 5|. The structure shown in' Figures 11 and 12 is particularly? apeiicasie to copper expansion tubes but may also be applied to other types of tubes. I I

The construction shown in Figures IB and- 14 is particularly applicable to stainless steel" expansion tubes but may also be employed for copper tubes or the like. in this form, the welding nipple receives the free end of' the expansion tube in an annular depression; and is Welded thereto by a metallic arc butt weldBU. The sleeve 6| is Welded to the el ement- Miami the gussets or reinforcing ribs 62 are welded at their ends and edges to the elements 40, 4| and 6| and to the nipple 50.

Figures 15 and 16 illustrate a construction of a bolting end flange 2 l which is extended downwardly, as at 10, to provide a flat bottom edge 1| which is welded to an anchor base member 12. This base member 12 is provided with bolting apertures 13 by means of which the end of the joint may be securely anchored to any suitable support and so secured in the conduit line. As in previously described forms of the joint, the elements 40 are permanently secured to the end flange 2| by interposed gussets 43, the bottom gusset 43 being of the special shape shown in Figure 16 with its edges respectively welded to the sleeve 42, the end flange 2| and the anchor base member 12 whereby the latter becomes an integral part of the end assembly of of the joint. In all other material respects the joint of Figures- 1 5' and 16' is snbsta tiaiiy on the ass 6: those hereinbefore described.

If desired, the central annular reinforcing rings of the expansion joirrt'may'be'sornetvhatmodified in form by employing ressed disks 14 of the cross-sectional shape shown Figure 1 8. this shape of the disk 14, the outer edge portion 15- t'herof oppositely dished with respect to its inner edge portion- 1 6 with the result that when" two of the disks 14 are assembled as shown in Figure 1'1 with their ihner edges welded together along the circular line 16 the outer edges 11 -11 of the welded unit areidivergentwith respect to the median plane of the unit and so provide a relatively broad support'for the circular band 18 Welded thereto. The resultant ringis also in the foi' r'h of hollow annular unit which in all mate rial respects is similar in function to that shown ii-i Figures 7 to 10,- inclusive, the annular unit being split, as in the" previously described form. to provide two nawes which may be bolted to gather in embracing relation with respect to the corrugated flexible tube of the expansion joint.

It will be understood, of course, that the pres ent invention is susceptible of various changes and modifications other than those hereinbefore specifically described without departing from the real spirit or general principles of the invention. For example, Figure 5A illustrates a modification of the'end construction of the joint, as shown in Figure 5,. wherein the end of the corrugated tube is spun over the end bolting flange 2 instead of being welded thereto; the flanged end 20W of the tube being then engaged by the gasket 2 I5 to force the tube material into the annular 2M of the bolting flange 2|2l In this construction, as

case may be. In each case, this thrust is transmitted by these endmost elements through the gussetsor reinforcing ribs 43, or 62 as the 5| and 6| in all of theseforms also serve to transmit thrust to the lower edge of the'reinforcingrings 40.

The boltingflanges 2| asw'ell as the welding nipplestfi serve asa means for coupling the joint to the pipe system. These will therefore be referred to in the claims by the generic term coupler.

What is claimed is:

1. In an expansion joint having a corrugated tubular expansion member and external annular reinforcing and movement limiting units, each unit comprising a hollow toroid fitting into the hollows of the corrugations and an external circular band welded to and encircling said toroid, the toroid being of a generally ovoid cross-section and extending radially of the corrugations with the external circular band being extended transversely of the outer circumferential edge of the toroid to respectively embrace adjoining the peaks of the corrugations when the expansion member is compressed, each toroid comprising a pair of dished annular members welded together along their inner circumferential edges.

2. In an expansion joint having a corrugated tubular expansion member and external annular reinforcing and movement limiting units, each .unit comprising a hollow toroid fitting into the hollows of the corrugations and a circular band encircling said toroid, said toroid comprising a pair of complementallyformed dished annular members welded together along their inner circumferential edges, the band being coaxial with the toroid and welded to the outer circumferential edges of the toroid members, the bands of adjacent units being adapted to abut one another when the expansion member is compressed.

3. In an expansion joint having a corrugated tubular expansion member and external annular reinforcing and. movement limiting units, each unit comprising a hollow toroid fitting into the hollows of the corrugations and a circular band encircling said toroid, the toroid being formed of two preshaped hemitoroids dished complementally with respect to each other and welded together along their inner circumferential edges, said circular band being welded to the outer circumferential edges of said hemitoroids.

4:. In an expansion joint having a corrugated tubular expansion member, in combination, a plurality of intermediate external annular reinforcing and movement lin'Iiting units, and a pair of end movement limiting units; each intermediate unit comprising a hollow toroid having an arcuate inner edge adapted to fit into each hollow of the corrugations and an external circular band welded to the outer rim of said toroid in coaxial relation therewith; and each end movement limiting means comprising a hemitoroid and an external circular band, all of said bands being coaxial with the tube and toroids and being adapted to abut one another when the tube is compressed, and said hollow toroids being each formed of a pair of hemitoroids welded together along their circumferentially extending inner edges.

5. In an expansion joint having a corrugated tubular member and a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular reinforcing and movement limiting units respectively adapted to be nested in the hollows of said corrugated expansion members wherein said units all include identical structural elements each in the form of a centrally apertured dished annular member of uniform material thickness, each said member being provided with an axially presenting internal flange defining the central aperture thereof, certain of said identical elements being arranged in pairs with their internal flanges in abutting relation to provide annular units adapted to nest in intermediate hollows of the expansion member and other of said identical elements being arranged singly at opposite ends of the joints to provide annular units adapted to nest in the opposite end hollows of said expansion member, all of said paired elements and both of said single end elements being respectively fitted with coaxial circular bands of uniform diameter adapted to abut one another when the joint is compressed.

6. In an expansion joint having a corrugated tubular member, a structural element for use as an annular reinforcing and movement limiting unit comprising a centrally apertured annular member of uniform material thickness throughout, said member having an axially presenting internal flange defining the central aperture thereof and said flange being joined to the main body portion of the member by a transversely curved section, and a separate circular band secured to and extending marginally about the outer peripheral edge of said member concentric with respect to said internal flange.

'7. In an expansion joint as defined in claim 6 wherein a pair of said structural elements of identical form and construction are secured together in face to face relation with the edges of the internal flanges thereof in abutting engagement and wherein said circular band is commonly secured to the outer peripheral edges of said pair of elements and projects axially equidistantly to either side of the meeting plane of said elements.

8. In an expansion joint as defined in claim 6 wherein said circular band axially projects entirely to one side of the outer peripheral edge of said structural element and in a direction opposite to that of the internal curved flange thereof.

JAMES P. ZALLEA. JOHN J. MANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,052,709 Badger Feb. 11, 1913 1,057,763 Mueller Apr. 1, 1913 1,319,457 Bogart Oct. 21, 1919 1,691,040 Badger Nov. 13, 1928 1,716,429 Davies June 11, 1929 1,797,151 Lord Mar. 17, 1931 1,835,298 Greene Dec. 8, 1931 2,104,776 Shaw Jan. 11, 1938 2,293,997 Neuhaus Aug. 25, 1942 

